Ace That Essay!

​​​​​It’s
getting to be that time of quarter again: finals. I don’t know about you, but
every single one of my finals for this quarter is an essay. That's why I've already started stress eating. No matter how many
essays you’ve written (and I’ve written my fair share), the process of writing
an essay can be tricky. And if you’re a freshman, your first college essay can
be particularly daunting. In anticipation of the stress of finals, I’ve
compiled a list of my tips to writing an essay:

1. Turn
It Off

Everyone
who knows me knows about my laughable attention span. So naturally, the hardest
thing to do is to get away from distractions. I physically gravitate towards
distractions, so this just kills me. Sometimes you really need to get work done and the Candy Crush​ request notifications just won't stop. There have been times when I have had to take extreme measures. I
have (in order of insanity): turned off my phone, taken the batteries out of my
remote, placed my phone on the other side of my room, and at my lowest moment,
I even turned off my WiFi. But I got my work done, and that's what is important.

A relic from my freshman year, evident by the cringeworthy hashtags. I've known the struggle of essay writing all too well, as you can see. (Also, feel free to follow me if you're so inclined.)

2.
Spread It Out

No,
I’m not one of those annoying people who believe that you should write “a
paragraph a day” or any of that nonsense. Honestly, I have yet to meet someone who
actually does that. I am very much someone who has to write an entire paper at
once. Nevertheless, I still spread my work out. How? One day, I might pick my
topic and find some sources. Another day, I might outline my argument. Then,
usually at the last moment, I write the paper. No matter what, I know I will put off the actual writing until the last second, so anything I can do in advance to prepare just makes my life easier. Try different ways of
dividing the work and see what works best for you!

3.
Phone A Friend

As my
poor friend Joanna can tell you, I’m a talker. I talk all of my ideas out.
Unfortunately for her, she’s always around when I have an epiphany about my
thesis, so she is routinely forced to listen to me go over my argument. If you're
struggling with a concept or you’re not sure if you're making sense, try to
talk it out with your friends (especially if they’re in the class too!). Most
of the time, they will be able to tell you where you’re going wrong or give you
suggestions.

Disclaimer:
Not all friends are made the same and it's up to you to pick one who will make
your paper better, not worse.

4. Ask
an Expert

If you’re
struggling up a storm (we’ve all been there), you can make an appointment to
meet with a Writing Center​ tutor. They can help you with almost anything you
need. If you’re trying to clarify or strengthen an argument, write your thesis
statement, fix grammar, or whatever, they can go over your essay with
you. They won’t write it for you, but they can help you every step of
the way. And for the record, they can
even help with papers for foreign language classes!

5. Go
to the Source

The most
obvious and most underutilized resource you have: your professor. If there is
something you don’t understand about your assignment, you can’t pick a
topic, or you just need a little guidance, no one can help you more than your
professor. DePaul professors are usually really good about being open and
available for questions. Obviously, this varies from professor to professor.
I’ve had professors who were only willing to meet during office hours or who wouldn’t reply to emails on weekends. I’ve also had professors who hand out
their home phone number and tell students not to hesitate to call if they ever
have any question. One of my professors even came in on a weekend to meet with
me. No matter what, professors are there to help and want you to do your best, so don’t be
afraid to talk to them!

I’m
getting ready to write a ton of essays for my finals, so if you have any more
tips, let me know!​